Demon

[laraine]

Raine noticed the tension between the two boys once more and sighed, going up the front desk of the INN and asking for a room. After she obtained the key and paid for the night she quickly rushed towards the hot spring located within the back of the inn. She slid into its warm depths and sighed. She looked up at the darkening sky and sighed again, this time thinking over what Silvarn had told her.

Is this really the right choice? I was hoping to die, to be with him again. But, I suppose Silvarn is right. To live alone within that banished realm will probably be what I deserve. Besides, I am actually very scared of dying. Who wouldn't be? She laughed bitterly at her sorry state.

I can't erase my past or what my family thinks of me, no matter what I do. The least I can do is atone for my sins by killing that jerk. She clenched her hands tightly into fists.

But I do have to be careful around Silvarn. I do believe he won't kill me yet, but his cold heart is fighting me and he might be lured to take the easy way out. I just hope I can reach him somehow, to prove I'm no threat to him, even if he did betray me. After all, its nothing for me to worry about, my life is full of betrayal.

She let the warm water wash away her doubts and fears, as well as the grime on her body.

After she had finished her bath, she walked towards her room in a robe. She walked by the front desk and spotted Silvarn sitting isolated in a corner. She smiled slightly at him before making her way to her room again.

[thedookienut]

Samuel's mind was too busy for the calm of a bath or the sulclusion of a dark corner. He parted from the two and made his way towards the bar. Seating himself at a table, he ordered a tankard of Ale and took a sip curiously. A smirk appeared on his face - Alharmor's ale was still the best he'd tasted.

It was a familar comfort. Something he needed. He dropped back in his chair, keeping his eye on Silvarn, wondering. He took another sip, glad to be tasting, and near, something so familar. He'd often come to Alharmor to drink or trade. It was a good two day ride from his village, but that wasn't something he cared about. He longed for something familar in distant and dark times, much like the past few days.

[Silvarn]

The scraggly-bearded man regarded the grey-cloaked man with a mild distaste.

"That one?" he almost growled in his gravely voice.

"Yeah, him. The one with the weird eyes." his slimmer, younger, and clean-shaven companion assured.

"But, from the looks of his clothes, he's dirt poor."

"And those are the ones who have the most loot." the younger took a generous gulp of ale. "They dress poorly to avert the attention of thieves otherwise too stupid to figure it out. Thieves unlike you and I."

"Huh, it's a good thing I leave the thinking to you, then." he ran his fingers through his beard.

"Of course." the younger answered, looking casually at the grey-cloaked stranger with eyes sparkling with cunning.

"Uhh...do people talk to themselves, normally?"

"What?"

"He keeps moving his mouth like he's talking, but there's no one within yards of him." the bearded man specified this with an index finger.

"Don't point at him!" the younger hissed, slapping his comrade's hand down. "We don't want to attract attention, especially his!" He relaxed his expression and purchased another tankard, handing it to his dimmer companion. "Give this to..." he glanced about the tavern's occupants, "his friend there. The one that keeps glancing at him. Invite him over to talk to me. See if we can't get some information on that grey one in the corner."

[laraine]

Raine quickly made her way to her room for the night, lying back on her bed and staring at the ceiling. She sighed, once again thinking of the situation she was in. Grasping at any ways to get out of it. Then she rapidly shook her head. "No, no! Think positively Raine."
She closed her eyes, thinking sleep would come.
Then her stomache growled.
A pause.
"Maybe I should get something to eat first." She made her way downstairs.

[thedookienut]

Samuel slowly finished his ale, his thoughts and eyes scanning the room before returning to make sure Silvarn hadn't vanished while he wasn't looking. He sighed. Maybe he was just paranoid. Like always. He leant back in his chair, letting his guard down, just to relax. The stress of the journey, and the Risk attacks, had almost crushed his spirits.

He closed his eyes, admiring the welcoming noise of a freindly tavern. He quickly drunk the last of his tankard and waited. He'd let his first beer in a while settle down before fetching another.

[Silvarn]

I say we teach them a lesson. Scorcahr whined.

"Now, now, it is not their fault they have a phony Talisman of the Mind's Fortress. On the outside, they appear authentic. Indeed, there is a whisper of magic about them. But, the fact you were able to read the little one's thoughts begs otherwise."

Still, I doubt Samuel wants to be drug into another affair not his own, especially when we have the opportunity to intervene.

"Samuel can take of himself. Laraine , as well, for that matter."

"A drink for you, mister?" a sultry barmaid asked with a wink.

"Keep that vile poison you call 'drink' away from me." Silvarn growled venomously. "Unless you have, by chance, a spare bottle of Clear Steel?"

"I thought so." the barmaid smiled seductively. "I knew as soon as I clapped eyes on you, you were a Clear Steel drinker. Shall we share a bottle?"

"Do let us." Silvarn smiled mischievously. The barmaid returned momentarily and set down the shining bottle in front of Silvarn. The mage watched with pleasure as the alcohol visibly ate away at its clear steel container, hence its name.

"How about a contest, stranger? Whoever is knocked to the ground first?" the barmaid raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"If I win, you give me a week's room and board." Silvarn gripped the bottle.

"And if I win, you work for me for a week. And tell me your name."

"Done." Silvarn unscrewed the mithril cap and poured some Clear Steel into it. Taking great care, he threw the swallow down the back of throat, contacting as little skin as possible. Still, an unseen force knocked his backwards, as if he were struck by an uppercut. He shook his head to clear his senses, poured another measure, and offered it to the barmaid.

[laraine]

Raine walked downstairs to the bar, where she saw both men swinging down some drinks. She shook her head slightly at this and sighed. She walked out of the Inn in search for another place to go to eat. She didn't want to bother the two boys as they either drowned away their sorrows or just loved to drink.
"The last thing I want is to see those two when they are drunk." She smirked slightly at the thought, wondering if either would be total idiots when drunk to the point of no return.

"So you went for a walk I see."

Raine turned abruptly at the voice behind her. There was a man in the shadows of the darkened street, one hand on his hip, the other outstretched towards Raine.

"Who are you?" Raine demanded, squinting her eyes to determine who this person was in the faint moonlight.

The figure laughed softly. "Dont be so alarmed, I'm not here to kill you..yet. Just maybe a little wager if you will. Because the next time we meet, I wont be so kind as to offer you a way out of this mess."

Raine frowned at this, she didn't trust this man. "Show your face and we will see."

He stepped into the light.

[thedookienut]

Samuel opened his eyes again, hearing several men closer to him cheer. He smirked at them and stood, heading towards the bar, aiming to get a second ale. His eyes scanned the room as he walked, making sure to dodge anybody that swayed towards him as they walked.

Though one person managed to.

A smallish man, about 5'4 turned around crashing into Samuel, knocking him into a table, the six occupants glaring at him. The man watched in horror, hurring over to apologize.

"I'm really sorry..." The man broke off, a large smile spreading across his face. "Well bugger me, Samuel Auel. How've you been?" He added, now laughing and shaking his head.

Samuel looked at the man with a puzzled look, trying to understand who the man was. He took several moments to realize it and returned to large grin with his own.

"Elwe...I thought you'd left Lonea." Samuel laughed, stepping out the way of a barmaid.

"I did, but I came back. But what brings you this far from home? Alharmor's a good two-three day from your place."

Samuel sighed, giving Elwe a grave look.

"It's gone." Elwe's face dropped, stunned. "All of it."

"Your not serious, are you?" Elwe asked, unable to think straight. "Not the entire town, surely not..."

Samuel nodded. He began to turn away and placed a hand on Elwe's shoulder.

"I have to go. It's been nice seeing you again." He gave Elwe a small smile and headed back to his table, giving up on the thoughts of another beer.

[Silvarn]

Silvarn kept a firm gaze on Samuel, noting how effortlessly dodged past the man intending to smooth-talk him, as much as his limited mental capacity allowed him. He watched Samuel speak to an old friend, or so the mage assumed, listening in on the conversation as much Scorcahr's mental connection allowed him.

"How quaint. I smell the scent of revenge on the air." Silvarn mused.

One of the best scents in the world. the demon sighed wistfully.

"Where did Raine run off to? Surely, she must be finished cleaning herself."

She is a woman, mind you.

"True." the anxiety that had built up in the mage's chest dissipated, then returned as an intense, electric sensation burned at his side. He reached into his sleeve pocket, drawing out the amethyst crystal the Lockner matriarch had given him.

Her visage appeared within the stone, and her voice echoed out of it. "We have decided to spare Laraine her life until she has exacted revenge on whomever slew her lover. We ask that you help her with this task, that we may expedite her hour of death. We cannot chance coming too close to her twenty-first birthday."

"We had an agreement." Silvarn interjected with a snarl, "I should be reading your grimoires at this very moment."

The woman continued, ignoring Silvarn, "When she has had her revenge, smash this stone. It will alert us to your location, and you will have your precious glimpse at our grimoires. Until then, standby for further instructions." her face faded into the depths of the jewel.

"Who does she take me for, ordering me around like that?" the mage growled, shoving the stone back into the depths of his pocket.

I do believe we have the short end of the stick now. the demon whined.

"There are ways to thwart the Lockners, I am certain. Perhaps not even having to resort to Banishing Raine. Eager as I am to test my skills in that college, I do not wish to risk permanently wiping her from existence."

What is this? The infamously sullen Silvarn Grey-Eyes actually cares about someone besides himself? Scorcahr sneered.

"I share certain similarities with her. I see much of myself in her."

First, feelings of affection. And now, sexual desires? My good Silvarn, you are growing up very fast.

"You sicken me, demon." Silvarn snarled at his measure of Clear Steel.

All this while, the barmaid stared at Silvarn in utter bewilderment and total fear.

"You either cannot hold your drink well, or you're stark raving mad!" the barmaid exclaimed, retracting from the table as if it were a carcass, attracting the attention of the rest of the crowd.

"Beg your pardon, miss?" Silvarn regarded her seriously with his cold, dead, grey eyes.

"Please, don't hurt me! You're a very nice man, a very nice man. I don't mean you any harm." the barmaid slowly stepped away from the mage.

Silvarn rolled his eyes, then hung his head. "Why does this always happen to me?"

[laraine]

The figure revealed himself, to be the very same person who destroyed Danny. "You....You!" Without a hesitation, Raine launched herself towards him, crystal wand transforming into a sword. She swung the blade down onto him, only for it to collide with rusted steel of his own sword.

"You....demon." Raine growled, her calm face all but vanished.

"I see you do remember me." The red eyed man smirked, jumping away from her oncoming attacks and holding out his own hand. Demon energy sent Raine flying to the ground.

"Listen girl. I may have killed your love, but what if I offered you a way to escape from this fate?"

Raine stalled, but only for a second. "Don't give me that. Either way I will find a way out of this pain. I dont need a murderers help."

"Well, there are ways to make me not a murderer right?"

"What are you talking about?" Raine stood, glaring.

"Danny doesn't have to stay dead...does he?"

"What are you talking about? Raising the dead is impossible! I .....tried.." Raine looked to the side, clenching her fists. "It wouldn't work no matter what I did. Danny's dead, and YOU killed him!"

The man sighed and leaned against a nearby building. "Such melodramatics. I thought you were better than that Laraine Lockner Risk. Oh well, I see my offer has been rejected. I guess the next time I see you, you will be dead. Ta ta Laraine."

"Wait, dont you dare-" Raine launched herself at him, only for him to dissipate in a strange mist.

"That demon, I will follow him to the ends of the earth until I kill him. I swear Danny." Raine growled, trying to quell her rising anger. She took a couple deep breaths and stood up, turning back once more, before walking back to the Inn. She entered back inside, her hair hiding the expression in her eyes. She walked into the bar, ignoring Samuel and Silvarn, sitting in a nearby chair and thinking about what he said.

[thedookienut]

Heading back to his table, Samuel noticed many heads turned towards the corner. He followed their gazes and met Silvarn. He gave a small grumble and rolled his eyes, expecting nothing different.

He quickly seated himself and began to stare at the table, half wanting to be drunk and unaware of his surroundings, it would be a whole lot more enjoyable than sitting and staring.

Hesitantly, he stood, returning to the bar to indulge in another tankard of ale. He breifly glanced over to the large wooden clock by the fireplace and sighed. It wasn't too late, much to his disappointment, though a few of the Inn's inhabitants began to sing.

Samuel pushed past several tables and reached the bar. There he stood, leaning against the long, ale splattered, bar, waiting to be served.

[Silvarn]

"Scorcahr...?" Silvarn asked tentatively.

A crackling sensation permeated his senses, causing him to twitch mildly, but the fit soon passed.

Her rage... the demon whispered.

"Who, Raine?" Silvarn had watched he reenter the inn, but from the outside, not the springs, which he found odd.

Seething...an inferno devouring her soul.

"Why?" Silvarn asked.

I cannot tell. The fire is too bright and too hot to approach. the demon whined.

"Whatever it is, it must be important." Silvarn arose from his seat and strode over to Raine, ignoring the strange looks he received.

"Not so fast, bucko." two men looped their arms around his and began to drag him away, "You're coming with us."

The mage sighed in exasperation, then flared with silver light. The men were catapulted into opposing walls, thick grey fog smoldering from their skin. They looked at Silvarn in fear once, then bolted for the door.

"Get out of here! I'll have none of this senseless violence, much less from a mage!" the barkeep barked, gesturing for the door.

Silvarn almost spat, "Make me," but he held his tongue. He nodded his hooded head and obeyed the barkeep, escorting himself out the door. There was no need to develop any new foes. Not when they might have two powerful supernatural clans breathing down their necks.

"I suppose we shall have to make new accommodations for this evening, then." the mage mused aloud.

We will have to be quick, before word spreads.

"It matters not. I actually have been waiting for an excuse to sleep beneath the stars."

Tonight, the moon is at her fullest for this cycle.

"Perhaps, then, a bit of astrology before sleep. It may give us some answers as to where the murderer Raine is looking for resides. Or, if the Lockners are planning to double-cross us. Perhaps no sleep tonight, after all -- too many questions."

[laraine]

Raine looked up at the commotion that the people and Silvarn caused. She watched as he left and her anger dissipated. She looked at the table. "I wonder if he noticed my anger. Probably." she whispered. She stood up and walked over to Samuel, who by now had probably drunk himself silly. She grasped his arm. "C'mon Samuel, lets go. We shouldn't stay here any longer." She took another step and turned to him, she almost showed no emotion, yet she was sad. "I know you don't like Silvarn much, but please at least try to get along with him. It just doesn't seem fair, I know he has goodness inside, because he and I are similar. Samuel, I've done some awful things in my life, and I would give anything to take them back. But I cant, and wouldn't...because it kept me alive. I've killed so many, I'm upset that your angry at Silvarn for being who he is, and not me. Samuel I'm half demon, half witch, a being that is dangerous and deadly. Something that should have never existed. I just don't want Silvarn to be alone. I know how bad that feels. If you're going to hate Silvarn though, hate me too, because I am no better. But I really don't want to lose you as a friend. I don't want to lose anything else." She looked into his eyes with her own purple and chose her next words carefully. "There's something I need to tell you both. Something you should know."

She started to head towards the door without another word

[thedookienut]

Samuel darted his eyes over as Raine grasped his arm and dragged him. He listened, his eyes closing in guilt and regret.
"It's not that I hate Silvarn. I just don't trust him." He sighed, mumbling almost.

He walked after her, wanting to know what it was she wanted to tell them both.

((Sorry, writers block.))

[Silvarn]

Silvarn sighed with mild fatigue as he rubbed at his ancient grey eyes. "The Lake would be the best place for astrology, yes?"

Assuming it still has that otherworldly reflective quality.

"Also assuming nothing tries to eat us."

I have been craving wild game for quite some time now. the demon cackled gleefully.

"You can sample that particular fare if and when we restore you to a physical form."

Truth be told... the demon hesitated.

"Yes?" Silvarn encouraged.

Laraine wants to speak with us. the demon dismissed.

Silvarn turned back to face the inn, beholding the half-breed dragging the human whelp behind her.

"Raine, you need not inconvenience yourself by following me. I am quite capable of taking care of my own self and reuniting us." he caught the look on her face. "Unless this is about something else? Something...important?"